Inheriting the wind is actually a lot of fun.
“LostWinds” marks a promising start for Nintendo's new WiiWare service, which -- like Xbox Live Arcade and the PlayStation Network - supplies players with original games online.
The $10 title makes remarkably intuitive yet innovative use of the Wiimote's abilities. As Taku, a young boy tasked with saving his village from a vengeful spirit, players wield the wind to lift the protagonist and solve puzzles with waves of the Wiimote. The controller's infrared pointer can be used to “draw” a line along which they can propel Taku through the air, stream fire from a torch or slam an enemy against a wall.
That last function may lend the impression of a frenzied or violent game, but “LostWinds” features a tranquil atmosphere free of the craziness found in most modern titles. Taku's surroundings, from humid caves to the grasslands, provide a breathtaking three-dimensional backdrop to the game's two-dimensional adventures. Gentle wind and string melodies accompany his journey.
Taku's quest to collect protective artifacts presents the player with a series of platforming and puzzle-solving challenges. Strategically placed torches must be used to burn down wooden barriers, and rocks must be swept along the landscape to weigh down door switches.
But the greatest obstacle players face is navigating “LostWinds'” multi-tiered landscape, which is structured similarly to that of “Super Metroid.” As Taku acquires greater wind powers, players will backtrack to newly accessible areas of the environment to claim more artifacts. But remembering how to return to those areas is no easy task.
The crux of “LostWinds” - its Wiimote controls - are easily adaptable and function as a strong core of the game's appeal. The game's “draw and jump” system contains enough precision to turn the platforming into far more than a mindless chore. Another challenge is slowing Taku's descent during steep falls in order to prevent damage, which is done by waving the cursor over him in mid-air.
Flicking the controller to sweep Taku along is a strangely durable activity, and using it to wing enemies into walls is plainly fun despite their harmlessness. But the control presents occasional problems, such as trying to blow a rock or an enemy away and accidentally taking Taku along in its wake.
At only about 40 megabytes in size and a fifth of the price, “LostWinds” offers players a more skillful application of the Wiimote - and, in turn, much more fun - than most full-size Wii games to date. Though its three-hour completion time reminds you of one of the service's limits, “LostWinds” suggests that there are few others.
Staff writer David Wilcox reviews video games for The Citizen. He can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 245 or david.wilcox@lee.net
If you play
Game: “LostWinds”
Score: 85 out of 100
Parental rating: E for everyone
Publisher: Frontier Developments
Platform: Wii
Price: $10 (1,000 Wii points)
Features: 1 player
Life span: 3 hours
The final boss: By presenting an addictively fun platformer with clever use of Wiimote controls, “LostWinds” starts Nintendo's WiiWare service off in a promising direction.
The $10 title makes remarkably intuitive yet innovative use of the Wiimote's abilities. As Taku, a young boy tasked with saving his village from a vengeful spirit, players wield the wind to lift the protagonist and solve puzzles with waves of the Wiimote. The controller's infrared pointer can be used to “draw” a line along which they can propel Taku through the air, stream fire from a torch or slam an enemy against a wall.
That last function may lend the impression of a frenzied or violent game, but “LostWinds” features a tranquil atmosphere free of the craziness found in most modern titles. Taku's surroundings, from humid caves to the grasslands, provide a breathtaking three-dimensional backdrop to the game's two-dimensional adventures. Gentle wind and string melodies accompany his journey.
Taku's quest to collect protective artifacts presents the player with a series of platforming and puzzle-solving challenges. Strategically placed torches must be used to burn down wooden barriers, and rocks must be swept along the landscape to weigh down door switches.
But the greatest obstacle players face is navigating “LostWinds'” multi-tiered landscape, which is structured similarly to that of “Super Metroid.” As Taku acquires greater wind powers, players will backtrack to newly accessible areas of the environment to claim more artifacts. But remembering how to return to those areas is no easy task.
The crux of “LostWinds” - its Wiimote controls - are easily adaptable and function as a strong core of the game's appeal. The game's “draw and jump” system contains enough precision to turn the platforming into far more than a mindless chore. Another challenge is slowing Taku's descent during steep falls in order to prevent damage, which is done by waving the cursor over him in mid-air.
Flicking the controller to sweep Taku along is a strangely durable activity, and using it to wing enemies into walls is plainly fun despite their harmlessness. But the control presents occasional problems, such as trying to blow a rock or an enemy away and accidentally taking Taku along in its wake.
At only about 40 megabytes in size and a fifth of the price, “LostWinds” offers players a more skillful application of the Wiimote - and, in turn, much more fun - than most full-size Wii games to date. Though its three-hour completion time reminds you of one of the service's limits, “LostWinds” suggests that there are few others.
Staff writer David Wilcox reviews video games for The Citizen. He can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 245 or david.wilcox@lee.net
If you play
Game: “LostWinds”
Score: 85 out of 100
Parental rating: E for everyone
Publisher: Frontier Developments
Platform: Wii
Price: $10 (1,000 Wii points)
Features: 1 player
Life span: 3 hours
The final boss: By presenting an addictively fun platformer with clever use of Wiimote controls, “LostWinds” starts Nintendo's WiiWare service off in a promising direction.
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